HEALTH bosses say a new scheme which takes the pressure off A&E departments is working well.

Since the NHS Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) invested in setting up a team of mobile urgent care practitioners (UCPs) to work in people’s homes the number of patients admitted to hospital or attending A&E has been reduced.

The UCP scheme was trialled for six months from December 2013 to April 2014.

Initial results from this scheme showed that UCPs have reduced the number of attendances at A&E and admissions to hospital.

This success led to an extension in the project and since April 2014 UCPs have treated more than 1,000 people in their own homes with 546 being able to stay at home, helping them to avoid the anxiety of a journey to A&E and the possibility of an overnight stay.

Dr Andrew Phillips, the CCG’s lead for urgent care, said: “Our urgent care practitioners are paramedics or nurses who have had advanced training so they can treat and discharge patients with minor injuries and illnesses in their own home.

“They can undertake clinical procedures and provide a range of treatments.

“UCPs can also administer a number of medications such as antibiotics and speak with GPs and other care providers where they think a change of medication or care is required.

“Joined-up working and partnerships are important. That is why we are investing in this unique project and working very closely with Yorkshire Ambulance Service.”

Dr Julian Mark, executive medical director at Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, said: “This is a great example of partnership working for the benefit of patients with UCPs providing care and treatment for a range of illnesses and minor injuries in people’s homes.